Miffed at missing the game at Walsall, I made the journey down for the home game and our first ever meeting with fallen giants Sheffield United. Obviously looking forward to one of our big games of the season, but with a few reservations, not least about Keith Stroud being the match referee, but also at making the early kick-off and a feeling that whatever the result any Danny Wilson side always contrives to pee me off.

No chance for a sirloin or similar until after the game but there was time to grab a decent pre-match burger at the ground to keep the waistline happy until later. 4-4-2 was the obvious choice especially with both Nathan Jones and Kerrea Gilbert out of action. The starting eleven was fairly predictable, Alan O'Brien starting on the left flank. With only three of five strikers available it was Steve MacLean and not Rory Fallon who partnered in-form Andy Williams.

A decent performance overall deserving of a draw but in the first-half we were quite stretched at times as the Blades passed and moved much better, controlling the middle and neat-triangling forward but for all that they were not that penetrative. The pattern was of the home team adopting away tactics with Yeovil looking to absorb pressure and countering quickly from deep. Yeovil had their moments, which mainly were down to Andy Williams turning and breaking with pace though there were one or two sweeping team moves from the back, notably a pacey breakaway that provided for O'Brien galloping up his wing to put in a low cross that just evaded a stretching boot.

Referee Stroud indicated early what we all feared - that he was going to crap up the day with over-officiousness and bewildering judgement. Decisions incorrectly judged time after time including absolute mind-bogglers, with some blatant infringements missed amongst the compulsion to penalise the petty and disrupt the flow. Bookings were harsh and over-fussy, the tide of error going firmly in favour of the away side. Thank goodness though he saw the foul on Jed Steer to rule out a header into the net from a Blades free-kick.

Close to half-time the Blades got the only goal of the game and it was such a hugely disappointing goal to let in. The back four had been firm but we had shown a bit of frailty on and off the ball in midfield. One particular weak moment from Paul Wotton as we were moving forward gifted the ball to the Blades in familiar fashion to how we got stretched and conceded in games a year ago, our opponents taking advantage to squeeze the ball over the out-rushing Jed Steer for Chris Porter to force over on the line. The Blackthorn, er sorry, Thatcher's Gold Stand were in uproar the ball hadn't crossed the line, but it did seem to hit the side netting. The officials were unsure; whether the Sheffield celebrations were the trigger for the linesman to call it a goal or whether he relied on his eyesight through the mass of goal-line bodies, is anyone's guess but call it he did.

We responded with urgency to get level again in the few minutes left of the half but Stroud again became prominent. Gavin Williams who was playing on the right of the midfield appeared to set Andy Williams free only for him to be barged out of a chase for the ball approaching the right corner of the area. He was clear favourite to win the race, but in keeping with the day both the ref and his linesman saw nothing. Worse followed moments later in the same part of the pitch, when the impressively lively forward was again racing clear but 'professionally' hacked down by Lescinel Jean-Francois. Going by how strict Stroud had been before, the crowd sensed that this should have been a red and as a cynical foul even on the non-Stroud way of looking at things it was at least an 'orange ' if I can just invent such a thing - but for taking our best player out of the game in a threatening position and causing him to limp off with a serious-looking instep injury, Stroud momentarily morphed into a generous spirit and dished out a yellow.

Anthony Edgar replaced the injured Andy Williams, moving to the left wing with O'Brien moving centrally, at times up with and at times in behind, MacLean. Losing the thrust of Williams was a cruel blow but the introduction of Edgar improved the team once he found his stride. Going forward he looked very comfortable with good skill, and looks a definite prospect, and suddenly the whole balance looked better with options to pass as we moved forward creating chances. Drifting into the middle and cutting through with pace Edgar struck a fierce shot that Steve Simonsen did very well in conditions that became greasy after rainfall to save low down to his right. Ed Upson came more into the game with some decent attempts on goal. Simonsen shone again to keep out a stinging Paul Wotton free-kick that Max Ehmer following up almost headed in from the rebound. The back four continued to be firm and Yeovil continued to press forward with much more cohesion and invention than the first half - notably managing to play further up the pitch but without being able to find a breakthrough that on balance of play they deserved.

Late in the game with endeavour and enthusiasm to find a deserved equaliser, we had for a while forgotten about Stroud, but in injury time he reminded us in usual fashion when he booked Curtis Haynes-Brown for the second time in the match. The left-back, who had done well in defence and going forward, had just been announced as the sponsors' man of the match, and now he was walking off the pitch for just making contact with an opponent, close to where Jean-Francois had given his side a major advantage by scything down Andy Wiiliams and putting him out the game. Even in the dying seconds Stroud annoyed the home crowd again; he had opportunity to correct Steer's imprecise placing of the ball for a free kick level with his area, but once the Blades' support noisily reacted for the purpose of wasting the dying seconds of injury time, Stroud forgot he was indifferent to Steer grabbing a yard and responded like a faithful servant to the away-end moaning and instantly did their bidding.

Not a classic, that had a lot to do with the ref. It was a good effort in a match where our more illustrious opponents were not that impressive but were solid and effective as a unit. There is certainly no clear indication from this match of the destiny of either team, despite current contrasting positions in the table. We are still finding our feet and there are positive signs. The large gaps in the middle in the first half and the difficulty at times to play it on the deck from the back present a worry, but after the break we performed much better with a positive approach. Still very much a job in progress, which we have to accept will take time when rebuilding but we do need some more points on the board or it will be last season's pattern repeated. Enough evidence though to suggest that we should grow into a more competitive force.

Luke Ayling: 8/10 - Got away with a terrible error on his byeline but played well - though destined for one of his other two positions, I feel. Tigerish going forward and when defending.

Paul Huntington: 8/10 - Good game. Glad that my hunch he would be sold to provide funds for strength across the pitch didn't come to fruition, though it's not the end of August yet.

Max Ehmer: 8/10 - Played very well, a class partnership with Huntington.

Curtis Haynes-Brown: 8/10 - Defended well, comfortable going forward and some good passes. Long throw caused problems. Cruelly sent off by the poison dwarf.

Gavin Williams: 6/10 - Worked hard on the right but not a day for too many super moments.

Paul Wotton - 6/10 Did some grafting and tidying up bits adequately but the worries I have had are still there. He tried to get forward but his passing under pressure isn't League One any more, neither can he pass it from deep or make himself available enough as a passing option or cover the pitch all-game like you need to do at this level in midfield. I worry that with him in the side we will have to hoof too much. We managed to push up second half which made a big difference. Ayling or Blizzard or a new boy asap please.

Ed Upson: 8/10 - Good player, had a good game on and off the ball.

Alan O'Brien: 8/10 - Impressive left-wing effort with the promise of more to come, the team needs to adapt to his style to get the best impact out of him.

Steve MacLean: 6/10 - Some good linking and holding work that went unnoticed by some and appreciated by others. But not looking a scorer yet.

Andy Williams: 8/10 - Found it easy individually to break through a resolute United defence when as a team first-half we struggled to cut through. Was on course to be clear MOM before being hacked out of the game. Looked a bad knock, hope he recovers quickly.

Subs:

Anthony Edgar: 8/10 - Despite O'Brien's decent showing, we passed it around better with Edgar on the left. A couple wrong decisions and a couple things not executed perfectly, but he is a positive player who with game time will improve into a superb asset, on this evidence.

Rory Fallon: 5/10 - Couldn't get involved or improve our aerial strength on the day or find the space to make impact. An initial month now seems a good idea. His value to the squad can be judged by comparing his contribution when we were pressing forward as a contrast to to Andy Williams's impact that was in spite of us being out-gunned in midfield in the first-half. Unless Skivo is confident that Fallon will come good, it looks a clear case of look elsewhere (especially in term of value for money) because even the target-man potential was absent let alone the scoring potential. Sam would have done better.

Billy Gibson: 6/10 - Started a bit shaky but suggested potential that only game-time will prove one way or the other.

Spot on assessment, particularly with regard to our No 20.
30/08/2011 19:41:51

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